•Five years ago: Tropical Storm Gaston made landfall in South Carolina at near-hurricane strength. Protesters filling 20 city blocks peacefully swarmed Manhattan’s streets on the eve of the Republican National Convention to demand that President George W. Bush be turned out of office. .

•One year ago: In a politically startling move, Republican John McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a maverick conservative with less than two years in office, to be his vice presidential running mate.